Schools Districts Cross Country Championships
This week saw the qualifying races for entry into the Schools Ulster Championships.
3 Club Juniors took part in these events in exceptionally cold but favourable ground conditions.
Chloe O’Hare participated on Wednesday in the Down Districts at the Billy Neill Centre, Comber.
Chloe finished 15th in the Seniors race and accomplished a qualifying place in the Ulsters.
Meadow McCauley and Anna Fegan competed in a hilly Armagh District Intermediates Race held on Friday at the Palace Demense, Armagh.
Meadow finished with a tough final hill sprint to take a podium 2nd place and Anna took an 11th placing. Both girls qualified for the Ulsters.
The Schools Ulster Cross Country Championships will be held at the Mallusk Playing Fields on Wednesday 13th February.
Parkrun
With a few Parkrun venues having to cancel due to frozen ground conditions - 6 Newry AC athletes braved the cold at venues North and South that had survived the cancellations.
Armagh Parkrun
Meadow and Joanne McCauley joined 118 runners at the Palace Demense, Armagh.
Meadow used the race as a recovery run, returning to the venue only 24 hours after taking Podium at the Schools Districts Cross Country.
Meadow completed the Parkrun in 22:49 and took 3rd female. Joanne followed through in a time of 26:16.
Rostrevor Parkrun
3 club athletes from the Patterson clan joined runners at a frosty but as always majestic venue of Kilbroney Forest Park.
Club Junior, Ethan, continued his top performances at this challenging Parkrun course. Ethan took 1st overall place in a great time of 21.00.
Martin followed through in 6th place in 23.11 and young Ryan came over the finish line in 7th with a great time and new PB of 24.01.
Kilkenny Parkrun
Sarah Jane became a Parkrun Tourist this weekend and attended the Kilkenny Parkrun.
Sarah Jane proudly sporting the Newry AC colours joined 213 runners and finished with a fantastic 2nd Female placing, 13th overall in a time of 22:06.
Mountain Training
The Newry AC Mountain Squad hit the red trails in Kilbroney Forest Park for 2 and a half hours early on Saturday morning.
Rory Mulvaney pushed the pace at the front of the pack so hard that they couldn't manage a brief stop for a group photo!
Hill and Dales as well as the NIMRA & IMRA race series seasons are closing in fast and the mountain squad are focused on being fully race fit and navigationally prepared.
